The following excerpts from a lesson I'm working on have me baffled. I suspect my problem has alot to do with not understanding the game that's being played. Also, there seems to be a number of proper nouns along with some idioms I don't recognize. I've omitted what I'm able to read. I hope it doesn't confound the context. Can anyone help this less than well informed sports fan? Thanx.

"Chuaigh siad in airde ar Ardán Uí Ogáin. Leath na súile ar Liam nuair a chonaic sé na hardáin eile agus na mílte duine.

"Rug captaen Luimnigh ar an sliotar ar dtús agus bhuail sé lena chamán é. Chuaigh sé isteach sa chúl ach rug an cúl báire air. Bhuail sé amach aris é.

"Fuair siad dhá chúl agus ceithre chúilín."

"Chuaigh siad in airde ar Ardán Uí Ogáin. Leath na súile ar Liam nuair a chonaic sé na hardáin eile agus na mílte duine.

They went up on the Hogan Stand [the premier stand in Croke Park]. The eyes [of the crowd] levelled on Liam when he saw the other stands and the thousands of people. (I'm not overly confident about this sentence: it could be "Liam's eyes levelled or narrowed when he saw ...").

"Rug captaen Luimnigh ar an sliotar ar dtús agus bhuail sé lena chamán é. Chuaigh sé isteach sa chúl ach rug an cúl báire air. Bhuail sé amach aris é.

The Limerick captain grabbed the sliotar [the ball in hurling] first and hit it with his hurley. It went into the goalmouth but the goalkeeper grabbed it. He hit it out again.

"Fuair siad dhá chúl agus ceithre chúilín."

They got two goals and four points. (a goal is worth three points in hurling and Gaelic football).

Buióchas, a Fhiacc, a chara,

You've put my mind at ease. I thought I had suddenly waxed moronic. I have no knowledge of hurling whatsoever, and could never have deciphered the text.

quote:

Leath na súile ar Liam...

(I'm not overly confident about this sentence: it could be "Liam's eyes levelled or narrowed when he saw ...").

Leath na súile air = his eyes grew wide

Is dóigh liom go bhfuil gaol ag "leath" leis an aidiacht "leathan".

Tá fáilte romhat, a Phádraig, ach fós, níl mé sasta le m'aistriúchain ar: "Leath na súile ar Liam nuair a chonaic sé na hardáin eile agus na mílte duine."

B'fhearr liom comhairle a fháil ó daoine eile anseo.

"I have no knowledge of hurling whatsoever".

You have my deepest sympathy. You will die without having the most exquisite spiritual experience imaginable unless you get yourself to a Munster hurling final, or failing that an All-Ireland Hurling Final, sometime soon. You have been warned!

Ní fhaca mé post Dhonncha sula scríobh mé an méid thuas. Mar sin, 'sé an t-aistriúchain is fearr ná: "Liam's eyes grew wide when he saw the thousands of people in the other stands."

(I should point out that the winning team always ascends the Hogan Stand to collect their trophy).